Taxis will now be able to pickup and drop off passengers anywhere in town after 9 p.m.
Municipal council adjusted the rules governing taxis when it revised the town鈥檚 traffic safety bylaw Aug. 16.
The old traffic bylaw stated taxi drivers had to use designated taxi spots 24 hours a day to solicit business.
The new bylaw loosens the restrictions allowing taxis to pick up passengers anywhere in town after 9 p.m. Taxis must still use designated spots during daytime hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Mark Fercho, the town鈥檚 chief administrative officer, said the intent of the changes is to improve safety in town so taxis can pick people up directly in front of bars or clubs.
鈥淚 think this will be a big change to improve safety in the community,鈥� said Fercho, during a council meeting Aug. 2.
Chad Lazzari, owner of Mr. Taxi, welcomed the changes.
鈥淗aving no restrictions after 9 p.m. will be better because we鈥檒l be able to get people home faster and keep them out of trouble,鈥� said Lazzari, adding he still supports the daytime restrictions.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 mind the day time restrictions,鈥� said Lazzari. 鈥淲ith three other companies parked downtown it would be too much.鈥�
According to Lazzari, sometimes there are up to 11 taxis on the road at a time.
In addition to the new changes, he said he would also like restrictions in place during special events like Moonlight Madness and would like the municipality to create another designated spot for taxis on Patricia Street near Tim Hortons.
鈥淭here should be restrictions on busy festival days, like Moonlight Madness, because you can鈥檛 have every taxi company parking downtown otherwise there would be no parking for anybody else.鈥�
Radmilla Machalka, owner of Mountain Express, said she also supported the changes.
鈥淚mproving pedestrian safety and service to our customers is always a priority for our company,鈥� said Machalka.
Caribou Cabs did not respond for comment.
Paul Clarke
[email protected]
